Shrub rose plant named ‘Always Hope’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of shrub rose plant, herein referred to by its cultivar name, ‘Always Hope’, is provided which abundantly, substantially, and continuously forms exceptionally large displays of semi-double pink colored blooms. The growth habit is rounded and bushy. The foliage is smooth, and dark green with a slightly waxy finish. The plant propagates from cuttings easily, has a unique characteristic of consistently producing an exceptional amount of rose hips. The new variety is well suited for growing as a wildlife attractor, as a hedge, and as a source of attractive ornamentation in the landscape.

Botanical/commercial classification: Latin name: Rosa hybrida.

Varietal denomination: ‘Always Hope’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida shrub rose plant was created at Brenham,Tex., U.S.A., by artificial pollination wherein two parents were crossedwhich previously had been observed in the hope that each wouldcontribute their desired traits. The female parent (i.e., the seedparent) was the ‘Radgor’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 25,628). The maleparent (i.e., the pollen parent) was the ‘Gideon Lincecum’ variety(non-patented in the United States). The parentage of the new varietycan be summarized as follows:

‘Radgor’ x ‘Gideon Lincecum’

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were stratified in anartificial environment and sown into trays in a greenhouse environment.Seedlings were obtained and displayed phenotypic and biologicalvariation. Selective trialing and evaluation of the seedlings resultedin the identification of a single plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new shrub rose plant of the present inventionpossesses the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) abundantly, substantially, and continuously forms large        displays of pink colored blooms,    -   (b) exhibits an exceptionally high bloom to foliage ratio when        blossoming,    -   (c) exhibits a bushy and round growth habit,    -   (d) exhibits an exceptional amount of fruit (i.e., rose hip)        production,    -   (e) forms disease resistant foliage with a smooth and glossy        finish, and    -   (f) is well suited for growing as a wildlife attractor, a hedge,        and as a source of attractive ornamentation in the landscape.

The new rose can be readily distinguished from its ancestors uponobserving the bloom to foliage ratio when blossoming, that is totalbloom coverage of the foliage, also called bloom power. Morespecifically, the ‘Always Hope’ variety forms approximately 50% moreblooms when blossoming when compared to the dissimilar parental variety‘Radcor’. The new variety can also be readily distinguished from itsancestors upon observing the rose hip production. The new variety‘Always Hope’ forms an exceptional amount of rose hips, while theparental variety ‘Radcor’ dissimilarly does not form rose hips unlessmanually pollinated with the pollen of another variety. The otherparental variety, ‘Gideon Lincecum’ does produce rose hips, however theyare smaller in size and less abundant than the ‘Always Hope’ variety.

The new variety of the present invention also can be readilydistinguished from other shrub rose plants, including the ‘Radcon’variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,070) upon inspection of the blossoms.For example, the ‘Radcon’ variety forms dissimilar thinner petalledblossoms when compared to ‘Always Hope’ which exhibits petals thickerand more durable in comparison.

Asexual reproduction of ‘Always Hope’ was done by taking cuttings inBrenham Tex., U.S.A. in beginning in 2019. Cuttings were taken frommature stems that were approximately 10 to 15 cm in length andapproximately 0.75 cm in diameter. Initial cuttings were taken of thenew variety and grew into mature plants. Subsequent cuttings were takenof the initial asexually reproduced plants and grown into mature plants.Mature plants of both the initially propagated plants and thesubsequently propagated plants were compared. There was no observabledifference between the generations. Therefore, it was demonstrated thatthe characteristics of ‘Always Hope’ remain stable, uniform and true totype in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying color illustration shows as true is as is reasonablypossible to obtain in color photographs of this type, the typicalcharacteristics of the plant parts, i.e., the flowers, buds, stems andleaves of the new rose, ‘Always Hope’. The illustrated rose plant partswere approximately one year of age and were observed during August,while growing on their own roots in Brenham, Tex., U.S.A. Flowers, buds,and stem growth are displayed in various stages of maturity. The upperside and under side of the leaves, blooms and petals are displayed.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S. Colour Chart) Edition V. Thedescription is based one year old specimens of the new variety duringAugust while growing outdoors on their own roots at Brenham, Tex.,U.S.A.

-   Class: Landscape Shrub Rose. Cultivar ‘Always Hope’.-   Plant:    -   -   Height.—Approximately 0.7 m on average at maturity.        -   Width.—Approximately 0.9 m on average at maturity.        -   Habit.—Shrub-like, erect.-   Stems:    -   -   Size.—Approximately 66 cm tall by 1.1 cm in caliper.        -   Color.—Immature: Turquoise-Green Group 144C. Mature:            Turquoise-Green Group 144A.        -   Prickles.—Size: Approximately 1 cm in length on average.            Quantity: Slightly below average when compared to other            shrub roses. Color: Turquoise-Green Group N144A. Shape:            Declining, intrastipular, very slightly setaceous. Density:            Irregularly spaced throughout the stems.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Internodal spacing.—Approximately 4.5 cm on average.-   Leaves:    -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, odd-pinnate, and compound.        -   Margin.—Serrate.        -   Stipules.—Size: Approximately 1.5 cm×1.1 cm on average.            Margin: Adnate, and gland-laciniate. Color: Turquoise-Green            Group 144A. Texture: Smooth.        -   Size.—Approximately 13 cm×9.5 cm on average.        -   Petioles.—Color upper surface: Turquoise-Green Group 141A.            Color under surface: Turquoise-Green Group N144A. Size:            Approximately 6 cm×0.9 mm on average. Shape: Filiform.        -   Rachis.—Color: Turquoise-Green Group N144A.        -   Leaflets.—Number: 5 and 7. Shape: Ovate-lanceolate. Size:            Approximately 4 cm×2.25 cm on average. Venation: Reticulate.            Venation Color: Turquoise-Green Group 141A. Apex: Acute.            Base: Cuneate. Texture Upper Surface: Smooth, slightly waxy.            Texture Under Surface: Matte. Overall Appearance: Very dark            green. Color (Young Foliage) Upper Surface: Turquoise-Green            Group 144C. Color (Young Foliage) Under Surface:            Turquoise-Green Group 144C. Color (Adult Foliage) Upper            Surface: Turquoise-Green Group 141A. Color (Adult Foliage)            Under Surface: Turquoise-Green Group 144D.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Average size of inflorescence.—Approximately 16 cm×13 cm on            average.        -   Number of flowers per inflorescence.—Approximately 17 on            average.        -   Florescence type.—Paniculate.        -   Peduncle.—Color: Turquoise-Green Group 144A. Length:            Approximately 4.25 cm on average. Diameter: Approximately            1.75 mm on average. Texture: Gland-ciliate.        -   Sepals.—Number: 5. Size: Approximately 2.6 cm×0.7 mm on            average. Arrangement: Pentamerous and imbricate. Shape:            Obcuneate. Margin: Laciniate. Apex: Acute, appendiculate.            Base: Obtuse. Texture: Gland-ciliate. Color Upper Surface:            Turquoise-Green Group 143B. Color Under Surface:            Turquoise-Green Group 143B.        -   Buds.—Shape: Ovoid. Size: Approximately 2 cm to 1.25 cm on            average. Color (When Opening) Inner Surface: Purple-Blue            Group 63A. Color (When Opening) Outer Surface: Purple-Blue            Group 58B.-   Flower:    -   -   Form.—Semi-double.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 7.5 cm on average.        -   Color.—(When Opening) Upper Surface: Purple-Blue Group 63A.            (When Opening) Under Surface: Purple-Blue Group 58B. (When            Blooming) Upper Surface: Purple-Blue Group 58C. (When            Blooming) Under Surface: Purple-Blue Group 58D. (End Of            Blooming) Upper Surface: Purple-Blue Group 62D. (End Of            Blooming) Under Surface: Purple-Blue Group 62D.        -   Fragrance.—Nondetectable.        -   Petal form.—Obchordate.        -   Petals.—Size: Approximately 3 cm×2.7 cm on average. Margins:            Entire. Apex: Chordate. Base: Acute. Texture: Smooth.            Number: Approximately 8 on average. Petaloids: None present.            Petal Drop: Subfugacious.        -   Stamen number.—Approximately 125 on average.        -   Anther color.—Yellow-Red Group 14A.        -   Anther shape.—Oblong.        -   Anther length.—Approximately 2 mm on average.        -   Filament color.—Yellow-Red Group 14B.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 6 mm on average.        -   Pollen quantity.—Profuse.        -   Pollen color.—Yellow-Red Group 17A.        -   Pistil form.—Villous and free.        -   Pistil number.—Approximately 34 on average.        -   Stigma color.—Yellow-Red Group 7D.        -   Style color.—Yellow-Red Group 4D.        -   Style length.—Approximately 4 mm on average.        -   Receptacle.—Rhomboidal to globose. Achenes form on the            inside of the fruit. Size: Approximately 0.6 cm×0.7 cm on            average when mature.        -   Rate of flower opening.—Fast.        -   Lasting quality.—On plant: Approximately 2 to 3 days on            average. In vase: Unknown.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Vigorous and leathery.        -   Growth rate.—Average.        -   Hip/seed formation.—Profuse and abundant.-   Root system:    -   -   Root color.—Yellow-Red Group 20D.        -   Root habit.—Well rounded.-   Physiology:    -   -   Disease resistance.—Above average resistance to black spot            Diplocarpon rosae, downy mildew Peronospora sparsa, powdery            mildew Podosphaera pannosa, and cercospora leaf spot            Cercospora rosicola.        -   Cold hardiness.—The variety has been found to be suitable            for climactic conditions in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8.            Based on the performance of its parent varieties, it is            likely, although untested, that the new variety is suitable            for climatic conditions of USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 6 and            7.        -   Heat tolerance.—The new variety exhibits no unique heat            tolerance. The variety has been found to be suitable for            climactic conditions in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8.        -   Drought tolerance.—The new variety exhibits average drought            tolerance.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of shrub rose plant named ‘AlwaysHope’ characterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a)abundantly, substantially, and continuously forms large displays of pinkcolored blooms, (b) exhibits an exceptionally high bloom to foliageratio when blossoming, (c) exhibits a bushy and round growth habit, (d)exhibits an exceptional amount of fruit (i.e., rose hip) production, (e)forms disease resistant foliage with a smooth and glossy finish, and (f)is well suited for growing as a wildlife attractor, a hedge, and as asource of attractive ornamentation in the landscape. substantially asillustrated and described herein.